Bondage-Discipline, Dominance-Submission and Sadomasochism (BDSM) From an Integrative Biopsychosocial Perspective: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction BDSM (bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadism and masochism) increasingly receives attention from the scientific community. Where earlier research efforts mainly focused on epidemiologic characteristics, psychological and biologic factors driving BDSM preferences have recently gained interest as well. Aim To bring together all the existing scientific literature on BDSM from a biopsychosocial perspective. Methods Based on the PRISMA guidelines, the current systematic review brings together all the existing literature on BDSM from a biopsychosocial perspective. Main Outcome Measure Prevalence rates of BDSM interests were investigated in the literature, as well as the associations between BDSM interests on one hand and personality traits, adverse childhood experiences, education levels, sexual orientations and biological markers on the other. Results Biologic factors such as gender identity, sex hormone levels, and the neurologic constitution of the brain’s pain and reward systems influence BDSM orientation. With regard to psychological factors, both personality traits (eg, higher levels of openness or extraversion) and the presence of a personality disorder have been associated with a heightened interest in BDSM, although only limited supporting evidence is available. Additionally, sensation-seeking levels and impulsivity seem to contribute, because they presumably guide one’s drive to explore new or more-intense kinks. Whereas attachment styles impact couple dynamics, they also influence willingness to explore limits in a BDSM context. Lastly, education levels impact relational and sexual dynamics. Strengths and Limitations The limitations of the current review reflect those of the topical scientific literature. Although the number of studies focused on all aspects of BDSM is exponentially growing, most of these are only descriptive, and very few focus on underlying driving processes. Conclusion From this biopsychosocial perspective, we offer a dimensional approach while integrating the factors driving the onset and evolution of BDSM interests. De Neef N, Coppens V, Huys W, et al. Bondage-Discipline, Dominance-Submission and Sadomasochism (BDSM) From an Integrative Biopsychosocial Perspective: A Systematic Review. Sex Med 2019;7:129–144.

The Sexual Risk Behaviors Scale (SRBS): Development & Validation in a University Student Sample in the UK

“…Moreover, it is acknowledged that other types of sexual behavior, such as “kink” and bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, and sadomasochism (BDSM), may be related to engagement in sexual risk in some populations ( McGregor, 2015 ). However, to the best of our knowledge, evidence that these behaviors are prevalent in university students is limited ( De Neef et al, 2019 ). Thus, it might be sensible to conceptualise them as correlates of sexual risk behaviors, rather than constituting sexual risk behaviors per se, in university students.…”

A queer boundary: How sex and BDSM interact for people who identify as kinky

“…They found that both men and women were equally satisfied with sexual encounters in both BDSM and non-BDSM contexts, and that men experienced less distress about sexual dysfunctions in a BDSM context than in non-BDSM contexts; for women, their level of distress about sexual dysfunctions did not differ between the BDSM versus non-BDSM context. De Neef et al (2019) also refer to unpublished results in their studies of BDSM practitioners who use FetLife (a popular social media website for kinky people), and found that 70% of their 363 respondents regularly or always combined BDSM play with sex, whereas 7% never combined sex and BDSM. Moser and Levitt (1987) asked specifically whether sadism and masochism (SM) activities were less satisfying or more satisfying than "straight" sex.…”

Partner Selection, Power Dynamics, and Mutual Care Giving in Long-Term Self-Defined BDSM Couples

“…As an umbrella term, BDSM encompasses a wide range of activities and relationship styles (De Neef et al, 2019). Many definitions of BDSM have been presented within the academic literature as well as the community literature.…”